Australian Party

The Australian Party was a short-lived nationalist political party in Australia that was active from 1929 to 1931, founded and led by Billy Hughes. Hughes split from the Nationalist Party of Australia after being relegated to the backbenches by the new Nationalist leader Stanley Bruce, frequently crossing the floor and voting against the government. Hughes was expelled from the Nationalist Party in 1929, and he founded the Australian Party, whose motto was "United, white, free prosperous." The party's membership fees were low, and it refused corporate donations. The party was predominantly based in New South Wales, and it claimed 75 branches and 4,000 members at its peak, as well as four members of federal parliament. In 1931, it merged into the United Australia Party, having never contested a federal election.